George laughed. But Montgomery wasn’t having a pleasant reunion with his brother, whom he hadn’t seen since the last time he’d gone home to visit his parents last year. And with the point being to save George from a scandal by turning it on himself, he didn’t want to tell even his favorite brother, Andrew, about it. His family wouldn’t condone what he’d gotten himself into, even for the sake of the next king of England. So he’d had to listen to Andrew’s long diatribe about what he oughtnotto be doing in London.
“You know, George, this sudden fancy you’ve taken to married women is turning into a bad habit, don’t you think? It’s not as if there aren’t hundreds of attractive unmarried women, even young ones, who would swoon in delight to share a royal’s bed. You do realize, don’t you, that a woman can’t keep a secret? She may say she will, but she rarely does. And a dalliance with the next king of England is too big a secret not to brag about to her friends. From there it goes everywhere, eventually to her husband. On the other hand, no one begrudges you a mistress or two when you are estranged from your wife, they just insist the lady not be encumbered with a husband.”
“I am well aware of social, royal, and political protocol. As I said before, it was a mistake, that first time. There have actually been only a few women I’ve been smitten with over the years who were already taken. I have resisted all these years pursuing them, but then I saw Lady Chanders recently and was quite overcome with temptation. I thought that would be my only faux pas, but I think you might have enabled me by cleaning up the aftermath of that delightful affair.”
Montgomery laughed. “So it’s my fault?”
“No, no, it was simply my taking advantage of your kind and brilliant resolution to the problem, for which I do apologize and promise there will be no more after this,” George said, and tossed a note to the sofa where Montgomery was sitting. “And now that you’ll be out of town for a while—”
Montgomery cut in. “I will?”
“Won’t you? At least until Lord Chanders stops sending thugs after you? It’s not as if you are socially active in this town and will miss anything of note. By the by, why is that? By choice?”
“Indeed by choice,” Montgomery replied. “The only women at these events are chaperones, debutantes, and wives. Not my cup of tea.”
“Yet you were at Lady Mitchell’s soiree when we met,” George reminded him.
“A rare happenstance. She’s my eldest brother, Weston’s, mother-in-law. It was coercion at its best. She wouldn’t leave my bloody flat until I agreed to make an appearance at her party.”
“Well, you are a prime specimen, dear boy. The only one of three brothers who hasn’t been leg-shackled—strapping and with a face to make the ladies swoon pleasantly—you are a hostess’s dream come true, I would imagine.”
Montgomery grinned. “I prefer to remain my father’s bane. He got the rest of his brood married off. He’s bound to give up on me eventually.”
Montgomery hadn’t yet picked up the note that had been tossed to him, but George was now staring at it pointedly. Recalling the Prince’s promise that there would be no more indiscretions with married womenafter this, he didn’t need to be brilliant at deduction to know what was coming.
“Lady Tyler will be at that address tonight with some of her friends,” George said, nodding at the note. “If you should happen to make it obvious that you’re the object of her interest, it will get back to her husband. Problem solved. He was overheard accusing her of infidelity, demanding to know the culprit’s name, and several of her servants saw me calling on her a few days ago. So the scandal will soon be upon me if not deflected elsewhere.”
“So once again you want me to take the proverbial bullet for you?”
George wouldn’t say yes—he never explicitly requested these favors. Instead, he stated facts. “Lord Tyler has the temperament of a lunatic, he doesn’t care that he’ll be tossed in prison if he comes here to kill the next king of England. You’ll be saving his life by turning his suspicions on you instead. And I’ll be saving your life by getting you out of town for a few months. I’d already arranged it when I heard about that ridiculous race through the streets with a band of ax wielders. I found you a secluded estate where even your family won’t find you—in case you are worried about your father’s imminent arrival. I had an immediate reply from the lady of the house that you will be welcome in her home for as long as you like. A stint in the country will do you good, don’t you think? At the very least, you can stop worrying about Chanders sending the dregs after you.”
Montgomery picked up the note with two addresses on it, one in town, one in the country. “Who will my hostess be in the country?”
“Countess of Dawton.”
“A widow I hope?”
“No, but she might be lonely, since her husband has been in the West Indies for so many years it’s being assumed he prefers the climate there. But she may be a little old for you.”
Montgomery was amused, since all of George’s ladies had been old enough to be his mother. But seeking confirmation, he asked, “And this will be the last time?”
“That I trespass where I ought not? Yes. But I do have a greater favor to ask of you, one of national importance that lines up well with your own departure from London. Considering secrecy will be involved and patience will be needed, well, let’s just say for your service to the future crown, I will be giving you a parcel of land that currently has twelve rented cottages on it and a small manor house available for your use. The documents will be delivered after the scandals have subsided and the favor is completed.”
“I never asked you for anything, George,” Montgomery reminded him.
“I know, that’s why I’m being generous. Don’t think for a moment, Monty, that I’m not immensely grateful for your handy solutions to my waywardness. But there may be more danger than dealing with irate husbands involved with my final request. The package that will be under your sole charge and protection has become quite a nuisance, at least to me. He seems to think because we are both from esteemed bloodlines that we should be best of chums. He won’t feel that way about you. In fact, I warrant he’ll be suitably afraid of you.”
“Why would he be?”
“Because I’ve quite embellished your credentials. Needed to make him feel he would be safe with you, after all. He will be, won’t he?”
The Prince sounded worried, which made Montgomery ask, “Who exactly is this package, and why do I get the feeling someone wants him dead?”
“Because there are factions that do, even my own detractors would like to see me embarrassed by his demise because I offered him my protection. But Carlton House is too open to visitors, all of the royal residences are. It was a mistake to try to keep him here.”
“A squadron of your royal guards couldn’t keep him safe?”
“Too obvious and just what his enemies are expecting. Better that he be hidden away for a while—like you.”
